Joanna Toole Award (2021) - Myanmar Ocean Project (Myanmar)
Project Summary
The Myanmar Ocean Project (MOP) was founded in 2018 by SCUBA diver Thanda Ko Gyi to raise awareness about ocean conservation in Myanmar and to find solutions to protect the marine environment from harm caused by human activity, including impacts from abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). In collaboration with the GGGI, MOP has successfully conducted surveys and cleanup expeditions across the Myeik Archipelago, produced Myanmar’s first comprehensive ALDFG report, supported local community engagement, and removed nearly two tons of ALDFG from sensitive coral reefs.
For this project, MOP conducted interviews with fishers in the region to gather data to better understand gillnet gear loss in the Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar. This data will be analyzed to identify ALDFG hotspots and understand the life cycle of gear in the region from purchase through to end-of-life. The data also will contribute to ongoing efforts to estimate the amount of gillnet gear lost each year around the world. In addition, the survey findings will feed into the creation of educational materials to raise awareness amongst fishers and the public about ALDFG and its impacts on the local marine environment and species in order to help prevent gear loss in the future.
